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Quinnie Boyd Mysteries #2
Vampires on the Run: A Quinnie Boyd Mystery
In the months after Quinnie Boyd cracked the mystery of her missing teacher, she expected life in her small Maine town to snap back to normal. But two writers from New York City have arrived in Maiden Rock, and there's something not quite right about them. Sure, Ceil and Edgar are pale. And they dress in all black. And they don't go near the sunlight. But could they really be vampires? To find out, Quinnie turns to Dominic--a new kid in town who's an expert on everything geeky. Together, they'll risk their necks to find an answer . . .
-- "Journal"
-- "Journal"
Hardcover
First published March 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 14, 2017
Not being a big fan of vampires or mysteries, I dragged my feet a bit after receiving an unsolicited advanced reader copy, but once I started reading, I regretted my delay! Surrisi did a masterful job of combining a coastal Maine tourist town, 4 young teens, and vampires into an engrossing read. Quinnie Boyd first discovered her flare for solving mysteries earlier as she messily solves the mystery of her missing teacher in The Maypop Kidnapping. This follow up book has Quinnie puzzling her way through the gruesome murder of local pets and the arrival of two writers of vampire fiction while also navigating the sometimes rough waters of friend and maybe more than friend relationships. Told in first person by Quinnie, the reader will hear the voice of the young teen and will be able to relate to the typical anxieties of any teen or "tween"--communicating with parents, budding romance, following family rules, and stretching the wings of independence. All this wrapped in a mystery filled with vampire lore and a myriad of possible endings! Great mystery that will likely appeal to mystery lovers and fans of vampire fiction, but without the shock and awe that is generally associated with that genre. While the characters in the book are completing the 8th grade, this librarian sees "Vampires on the Run" appealing to a slightly younger audience, possibly grades 4-6.
July 30, 2017
Are they vampires, or just a pair of espresso-addicted authors from Brooklyn? When the couple behind the famous Count Plasma books come to teen sleuth Quinnie Boyd's coastal Maine town, they bring trouble along with them.
This book is a great summer read -- a middle grade mystery, full of humor and suspense. Although Vampires on the Run stands alone, I loved seeing how Quinnie has matured since her first book, The Maypop Kidnapping. It's ten months later, and Quinnie has not lost her curiosity, independence, or sense of adventure. But she's learning how to expand her circle of friends, which might include a newcomer from New Jersey, who's as cute as he is geeky. The full cast of quirky "Mainahs" from Book 1 returns. (Can we get a Gusty's Diner in my neighborhood, please?)
This book is a great summer read -- a middle grade mystery, full of humor and suspense. Although Vampires on the Run stands alone, I loved seeing how Quinnie has matured since her first book, The Maypop Kidnapping. It's ten months later, and Quinnie has not lost her curiosity, independence, or sense of adventure. But she's learning how to expand her circle of friends, which might include a newcomer from New Jersey, who's as cute as he is geeky. The full cast of quirky "Mainahs" from Book 1 returns. (Can we get a Gusty's Diner in my neighborhood, please?)
November 16, 2016
For years, I've been waiting for another series like Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys to appear. (A mystery series for kids who don't want to be scared too much but like surprises and suspense.) The Quinnie Boyd series is it. I just finished the second book, Vampires on the Run, after gobbling down the first, The Maypop Kidnapping. Strange things start happening in Quinnie’s town of Maiden Rock, Maine. A beloved cat goes missing, a strange animal prowls the beaches late at night, and a mysterious, vampire-like aunt and uncle arrive for a visit.
Quinnie and her friend get excited when they’re on the case, sometimes bending parental rules so they can crack the case. As a reader, you’ll be excited, too. Vampires on the Run is a lot of fun and like The Maypop Kidnapping will have you guessing until the last chapter.
September 6, 2016
It was such a delight to return to the fictitious Maiden Rock, Maine, for the second Quinnie Boyd mystery. Quinnie and the gang are at it again -- only this time with a new companion in Dominic, the geeky son of biologists who's in Maiden Rock for his first summer. From the get-go, I was completely sucked into the mystery of this one -- who are Edgar and Ceil, anyway, and what are their exact intentions in this tiny off-the-beaten path town?
As with the last Quinnie Boyd mystery, I appreciated the attention Surrisi pays to all of her characters. Both the children and adult characters alike are well-developed and unique (and oh so New Englandy), and the plotting kept me flipping the pages, wondering how it would all turn out. An excellent sequel.
As with the last Quinnie Boyd mystery, I appreciated the attention Surrisi pays to all of her characters. Both the children and adult characters alike are well-developed and unique (and oh so New Englandy), and the plotting kept me flipping the pages, wondering how it would all turn out. An excellent sequel.
December 14, 2016
Quinnie Boyd is back and as curious, smart, funny and adventurous as ever as she tries to find out the truth about the two mysterious and strange writers who come to Maiden Rock. Are they vampires? Quinnie is determined to find out. A perfectly paced mystery with just the right amount of spookiness, humor and even a little romance.
And for teachers and librarians, this one fits nicely into that 10- to 14-year-old age range that is often hard to fill.
And for teachers and librarians, this one fits nicely into that 10- to 14-year-old age range that is often hard to fill.
May 5, 2020
What a fun book! I bought this entire series and gave them to my daughter. She's devoured them all and told me I needed to read them too. So I am.
This is the second book in the Quinnie Boyd Mysteries series and it's just as much fun as the first. Ella's aunt and uncle are coming to visit. They're popular vampire novel writers. The funny thing is, they look like vampires themselves. When Quinnie starts to notice some strange things happening in her sleepy coastal town, she starts to think that the visiting authors really are vampires. Little does she know, someone else is keeping an eye on the authors as well. Dun dun dun (suspenseful music).
One of the things I like about this series is that it's for young teenagers. The main character is 14 years old in this book, which means she's just the right age for my daughter to be reading about. There are a few mentions of wanting a boyfriend, but it's all very innocent at this point. I'd say this is a good series for kids ages 10-14.
Content: Some suspense and dangerous situations. Movie rating would be PG.
Source: bought.
This is the second book in the Quinnie Boyd Mysteries series and it's just as much fun as the first. Ella's aunt and uncle are coming to visit. They're popular vampire novel writers. The funny thing is, they look like vampires themselves. When Quinnie starts to notice some strange things happening in her sleepy coastal town, she starts to think that the visiting authors really are vampires. Little does she know, someone else is keeping an eye on the authors as well. Dun dun dun (suspenseful music).
One of the things I like about this series is that it's for young teenagers. The main character is 14 years old in this book, which means she's just the right age for my daughter to be reading about. There are a few mentions of wanting a boyfriend, but it's all very innocent at this point. I'd say this is a good series for kids ages 10-14.
Content: Some suspense and dangerous situations. Movie rating would be PG.
Source: bought.
April 9, 2017
A very engaging and exciting mystery filled with lots of atmospheric details. The setting here is beautifully fleshed out, there's an interesting community of personalities, and the ending is both inevitable and surprising. Vampires, and vampire legend, lend a nicely spooky touch. I recommend this super fun middle grade novel!
March 6, 2017
Quinnie Boyd lives in Maiden Rock--a small coastal town in Maine. This town is so small that her mother is the: sheriff, real estate agent, post master, and mayor. With a mother wearing this many hats, and a town so small that "nothing ever happens" and a protagonist who is smart, strong-willed and intrepid, you can just imagine that A LOT of things happen. The mystery here centers around Quinnie's best friend, Ella's "Aunt Ceil and Uncle Edgar"—two vampire novel writers who come to Maiden Rock for some R&R. This all seems innocent enough until Quinnie meets them and sees their black clothes, pale skin, dark sunglasses, Ceil's red lips, Edgar's long, thin fingers. Why are they shutting the blinds? Why don't they go out during the day? Why are they acting so strange? Ella assures her they're not strange, they're just from Brooklyn and everyone in Brooklyn is like this. Quinnie is not so sure. And the more weird things happen, the more Quinnie begins to wonder if: it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...maybe it's a duck and maybe, just maybe Ceil and Edgar are vampires themselves. She and her new friend, Dominic (the boy who just moved here with his scientist parents) don't leave a lobster pot unturned in order to find out the truth.
Surrisi has created a wonderful mystery with just enough scariness to make things interesting for the young reader. Quinnie's relationships with her friends are age-authentic as is her "back and forth" battles with her mother. We have a protagonist here who is respectful of the law, and the rules her parents put down, but also so confident in herself and her abilities, that she pushes those boundaries a bit. And while a few times, she's wrong in her assessments, there are a few times that she's right and this gains her the respect of her mother (both as a parent and as the sheriff) as well as the reader.
One last thing—after reading this book, I want to visit coastal Maine...NOW and not just for the delicious food, but also for the cast of characters who live in Maiden Rock. They're all so real in my head, that they've got to be real in real life, right?
Surrisi has created a wonderful mystery with just enough scariness to make things interesting for the young reader. Quinnie's relationships with her friends are age-authentic as is her "back and forth" battles with her mother. We have a protagonist here who is respectful of the law, and the rules her parents put down, but also so confident in herself and her abilities, that she pushes those boundaries a bit. And while a few times, she's wrong in her assessments, there are a few times that she's right and this gains her the respect of her mother (both as a parent and as the sheriff) as well as the reader.
One last thing—after reading this book, I want to visit coastal Maine...NOW and not just for the delicious food, but also for the cast of characters who live in Maiden Rock. They're all so real in my head, that they've got to be real in real life, right?
February 28, 2017
Review copy provided by NetGalley
This is the follow-up story to The Maypop Kidnapping, the first book to feature Quinnie Boyd and life in her small Maine town. The story features characters from the previous book, and numerous references to that bygone book, enough so that even without having read it, I'm vaguely aware of the plot of the previous story now.
Quinnie's parents are kind of the lifeblood of their tiny town. Her mother is kind of the one-stop shop of all important jobs in town, from mayor on down to real estate agent, while her father runs the town restaurant and gathering place for all residents. This story follows the arrival of some unusual guests, mysterious vampire novelists that seem as though they could be vampires themselves. They are there for a retreat to work on their next book, but almost as soon as they arrive, strange things begin to happen that lead Quinnie and some of her friends to believe that they might be actual vampires.
And though her mother tells her that there is nothing to be solved, Quinnie decides to put herself on the case of uncovering the truth about their town's strange new residents. This is a story that will appeal to readers of Sharon Creech or Deborah Wiles who are out for a mystery fix. It probably won't be a mainstay of the vampire novel crowd, though the author's take on vampires is more akin to the original Dracula than modern depictions, which will certainly interest some younger readers.
Overall, this was a funny, lighthearted and character-driven story that will certainly satisfy a tween with a penchant for mystery stories. It's funny, but also mildly suspenseful. A fun summer-time read that will certainly leave readers satisfied.
This is the follow-up story to The Maypop Kidnapping, the first book to feature Quinnie Boyd and life in her small Maine town. The story features characters from the previous book, and numerous references to that bygone book, enough so that even without having read it, I'm vaguely aware of the plot of the previous story now.
Quinnie's parents are kind of the lifeblood of their tiny town. Her mother is kind of the one-stop shop of all important jobs in town, from mayor on down to real estate agent, while her father runs the town restaurant and gathering place for all residents. This story follows the arrival of some unusual guests, mysterious vampire novelists that seem as though they could be vampires themselves. They are there for a retreat to work on their next book, but almost as soon as they arrive, strange things begin to happen that lead Quinnie and some of her friends to believe that they might be actual vampires.
And though her mother tells her that there is nothing to be solved, Quinnie decides to put herself on the case of uncovering the truth about their town's strange new residents. This is a story that will appeal to readers of Sharon Creech or Deborah Wiles who are out for a mystery fix. It probably won't be a mainstay of the vampire novel crowd, though the author's take on vampires is more akin to the original Dracula than modern depictions, which will certainly interest some younger readers.
Overall, this was a funny, lighthearted and character-driven story that will certainly satisfy a tween with a penchant for mystery stories. It's funny, but also mildly suspenseful. A fun summer-time read that will certainly leave readers satisfied.
December 7, 2016
This was a DNF for me at the 60% mark. Every time I picked up my reader to try and finish I kept thinking about all the other books I'd rather be reading. I just found the story boring and slooooow. At 60% we still don't know the truth about Ceil and Edgar...nothing at all. I had not read the first book in the series so maybe Maiden Rock and other back ground info was set up in that book, but here the very, very basics are provided and left me with lots of questions. Is Quinnie's school in her dad's restaurant? Is the only class a literature class and does she only have one teacher? With her mom having 4 jobs, 3 of them town positions, don't the other adults care that the "wealth" isn't spread around? (I do realize small town government positions don't pay enough to sustain an adult, but 3 going to one person?!?) Are there any working age adults other than Quinnie's friends' parents?
Those questions aren't the reason I gave up, again it was primarily that I was waiting for something to happen and while Quinnie and her friends did some sleuthing it wasn't enough to get or keep my interest. The characters were fine and very main stream. None were "too cool for school" or quirky which, while enjoyable at times, can be over the top in teen (and adult) books. The writing flowed well.
Individuals reading my review and making the decision to get Vampires on the Run may want to keep in mind that I'm about 4 decades past the age of someone this book was written for. I do have to say my tastes in books hasn't really changed since I was a teen though. Books, genres and styles I liked then, I like now.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Those questions aren't the reason I gave up, again it was primarily that I was waiting for something to happen and while Quinnie and her friends did some sleuthing it wasn't enough to get or keep my interest. The characters were fine and very main stream. None were "too cool for school" or quirky which, while enjoyable at times, can be over the top in teen (and adult) books. The writing flowed well.
Individuals reading my review and making the decision to get Vampires on the Run may want to keep in mind that I'm about 4 decades past the age of someone this book was written for. I do have to say my tastes in books hasn't really changed since I was a teen though. Books, genres and styles I liked then, I like now.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 2, 2017
The second outing for teen sleuth Quinnie Boyd, Vampires on the Run returns readers to the fictional town of Maiden Rock, Maine. This time, Quinnie meets her friend's aunt and uncle, Ceil and Edgar, who are celebrated writers of a vampire series. They dress in all black, don't venture out in the sunlight, and are very, very pale. When weirdness starts happening around Maiden Rock, Quinnie's mental wheels start turning and she recruits Dominic, a new kid in town, to help her get to the bottom of the mystery.
Vampires on the Run is loaded with fun whodunit clues to keep readers guessing. You don't need to read the first Quinnie Boyd book, The Maypop Kidnapping, to enjoy this newest book; there's enough exposition to fill readers in. I liked Quinnie, her supportive yet firm parents, her friends, and the inhabitants of Maiden Rock. CM Surrisi spends a lot of time setting up the reader: so much that you kind of know the twist is coming, but it's a good one.
Vampires on the Run is a fun, cozy mystery for middle graders with a strong cast of likable characters. Mystery readers and fiction fans will enjoy it.
Vampires on the Run is loaded with fun whodunit clues to keep readers guessing. You don't need to read the first Quinnie Boyd book, The Maypop Kidnapping, to enjoy this newest book; there's enough exposition to fill readers in. I liked Quinnie, her supportive yet firm parents, her friends, and the inhabitants of Maiden Rock. CM Surrisi spends a lot of time setting up the reader: so much that you kind of know the twist is coming, but it's a good one.
Vampires on the Run is a fun, cozy mystery for middle graders with a strong cast of likable characters. Mystery readers and fiction fans will enjoy it.
January 29, 2017
What a delightful return to Maiden Rock, Maine, home of Quinnie Boyd, savvy middle school sleuth! As the summer approaches, Quinnie and her nail-polish-loving friend Ella are waiting for the arrival of Ceil and Edgar Waterman, famous vampire book authors and friends of Ella's crime-writer dad. Sure, they write about vampires, but does that explain why they *look* like vampires? And could it be a coincidence that right after they arrive, mysterious things start to happen. Characters from The Maypop Kidnapping return (including the delightful nuns, now running a cat rescue shelter in an old lighthouse!), Ben, and Ms. Stillford. But there's a new kid in town: Dominic, the son of marine biologists and a potential (nerdy) love interest. There are also these two stereotypical tourist guys, John and Bob, who are always decked out in LL Bean gear, but don't seem to know how or when to fish. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the book but also pulled along into the skillfully created case that Quinnie and her friends have to solve. Surrisi has created a cozy mystery series for middle graders that they'll want to return to again and again!
February 7, 2017
Quinnie Boyd is back. Two mysterious writers have come to Maiden Rock and raise the amateur-detective's suspicion. Why are they so pale? Why do they shroud their mirrors? Are they vampires? A school assignment about DRACULA fuels Quinnie's overactive imagination further and she is determined to find out the secret behind the writers' strange behavior. Together with her friend Dominic she undertakes nightly investigations that lead to an exciting conclusion. As she did in the first installment of the series, THE MAYPOP KIDNAPPING, Surrisi embeds the story in a well-depicted coastal Maine setting. Quinnie's amusing voice and the book's expert pacing make this a winning mystery for middle grade readers.
September 1, 2023
This was a 3 star until the ending which wow, just bad. Quinnie's age comes across inconsistently in this thing as well. Granted if I were a middle grade reader (the target audience) I might have enjoyed it more but this read less Nancy Drew and more....you know I'm not sure what? It skewed young, real young.
Quinnie lives in a picturesque coastal Maine town and is the local Nancy Drew. Her mom is insanely busy being the post master, sheriff, real estate agent and one more thing that I've actually forgotten because I don't usually see someone holding down four jobs (that'll keep her out of Quinnie's business). Dad runs a restaurant. Quinnie and her two besties Ella and Ben are looking forward to summer vacation when they meet Dominic, a newcomer roughly their age whatever that is (because Ben and Dominic are nearly old enough to drive and Ben drives a boat) but I think it's stated Quinnie is 13. Dominic is here with his marine biologist parents. Also in town are two tourists who are LL Bean victims trying to fit in and two weird NYC people Ella's 'Aunt' Ceil and 'Uncle' Edgar who are her dad's friends and like him bestselling author's.
In fact Ceil and Edgar have a shared pen name they write the stories of a vampire Count Le Plasma (no seriously) and in theory he tells them the stories as he's 'real' (obvious marketing scheme) but when some animals show up dead, including the cat rescue running Nuns favorite cat, Quinnie starts thinking Ceil and Edgar might have brought in real vampires or are vampires themselves especially after she and Ben see what she thinks is a wolf near the beach at 3:00 Am.
And naturally she seriously thinks Ella's dad's friends are behind it all and is trying (and succeeding) in getting the others to think vampires are real. Sorry, but they seem awfully old to make this leap based on next to nothing (other than Ceil and Edgar don't want to leave the house). The mystery here is what are those two hiding.
And it wouldn't be half bad for what it is, a middle school mystery but the ending absolutely sinks this thing. Here's a mild spoiler, no big reveals or anything, about what bothered me.
Ceil and Edgar are in some mild trouble but refuse to go to the cops. So I'm like what illegal thing did they do (spoiler, none which makes it worse) They are so adamant anti-cop that they are willing to risk FOUR young teens knowing there are two dangerous men after them so they could get out of town without the cops (i.e. Quinnie's mom) helping.
Let that sink in. Two grown adults are willing to risk the lives of four 13 year olds rather than call a cop when they, themselves, have do nothing to fear a cop. Surely there was a better way to have ended this. She thanks her beta team. Honestly if this had come through my beta group I would have straight up asked that. If you wanted the Hollywood ending on the water there had to be another way to do this. It was unbelievable and even more unbelievable was Quinnie's mom really didn't do much about it. ugh.
Quinnie lives in a picturesque coastal Maine town and is the local Nancy Drew. Her mom is insanely busy being the post master, sheriff, real estate agent and one more thing that I've actually forgotten because I don't usually see someone holding down four jobs (that'll keep her out of Quinnie's business). Dad runs a restaurant. Quinnie and her two besties Ella and Ben are looking forward to summer vacation when they meet Dominic, a newcomer roughly their age whatever that is (because Ben and Dominic are nearly old enough to drive and Ben drives a boat) but I think it's stated Quinnie is 13. Dominic is here with his marine biologist parents. Also in town are two tourists who are LL Bean victims trying to fit in and two weird NYC people Ella's 'Aunt' Ceil and 'Uncle' Edgar who are her dad's friends and like him bestselling author's.
In fact Ceil and Edgar have a shared pen name they write the stories of a vampire Count Le Plasma (no seriously) and in theory he tells them the stories as he's 'real' (obvious marketing scheme) but when some animals show up dead, including the cat rescue running Nuns favorite cat, Quinnie starts thinking Ceil and Edgar might have brought in real vampires or are vampires themselves especially after she and Ben see what she thinks is a wolf near the beach at 3:00 Am.
And naturally she seriously thinks Ella's dad's friends are behind it all and is trying (and succeeding) in getting the others to think vampires are real. Sorry, but they seem awfully old to make this leap based on next to nothing (other than Ceil and Edgar don't want to leave the house). The mystery here is what are those two hiding.
And it wouldn't be half bad for what it is, a middle school mystery but the ending absolutely sinks this thing. Here's a mild spoiler, no big reveals or anything, about what bothered me.
Ceil and Edgar are in some mild trouble but refuse to go to the cops. So I'm like what illegal thing did they do (spoiler, none which makes it worse) They are so adamant anti-cop that they are willing to risk FOUR young teens knowing there are two dangerous men after them so they could get out of town without the cops (i.e. Quinnie's mom) helping.
Let that sink in. Two grown adults are willing to risk the lives of four 13 year olds rather than call a cop when they, themselves, have do nothing to fear a cop. Surely there was a better way to have ended this. She thanks her beta team. Honestly if this had come through my beta group I would have straight up asked that. If you wanted the Hollywood ending on the water there had to be another way to do this. It was unbelievable and even more unbelievable was Quinnie's mom really didn't do much about it. ugh.
May 30, 2017
My name is Quinnie, and there are vampires living in my best friend's house! They are Ella's famous aunt and uncle, but I need to tell her what I've noticed. Her aunt is pale and sickly, won't come out in the sunshine, insists that all the mirror's in the house be covered, walks the beach at night, and looks healthier the day after a cat was killed. Ella probably won't believe me, but what if her life is in danger? Dominic and I have also noticed the fishermen from Ohio snooping around Ella's house. What's that about? Are they vampire hunters or paparazzi, because they sure aren't fishermen? My mom is the sheriff in this Maine town (and mayor, and real estate agent, and mail carrier...), but I'm not sure if she can help. Things seem to be getting more serious, so I'm going to need to do something soon.
This book is a nice introduction for young readers interested in vampire stories, but more mature readers won't care for it as much. You should expect to read this book as a mystery, not a vampire story. The whole plot read like a mystery, as Quinnie and friends tried to discover what was going on. All of the evidence could be viewed from different angles, so readers are never quite sure of the truth until the end. I enjoyed the small-town feel of the story, as most of the action occurred around two homes and the local restaurant, all located along a beach. Quinnie was a caring young girl with a vivid imagination, but she wasn't an impulsive character, mostly. She enlisted the help of friends, and it was cool how quickly Dominic was accepted. Overall, this story is a fun mystery involving world-famous authors of vampire books.
This book is a nice introduction for young readers interested in vampire stories, but more mature readers won't care for it as much. You should expect to read this book as a mystery, not a vampire story. The whole plot read like a mystery, as Quinnie and friends tried to discover what was going on. All of the evidence could be viewed from different angles, so readers are never quite sure of the truth until the end. I enjoyed the small-town feel of the story, as most of the action occurred around two homes and the local restaurant, all located along a beach. Quinnie was a caring young girl with a vivid imagination, but she wasn't an impulsive character, mostly. She enlisted the help of friends, and it was cool how quickly Dominic was accepted. Overall, this story is a fun mystery involving world-famous authors of vampire books.
November 5, 2017
Surrisi, C. M. Vampires on the Run, 285 pgs. Carolrhoda Books, 2017. $16.99. Language: PG (4 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.
It's spring in Maine and Quinnie is looking forward to school ending and spending time with Ella and Ben. Ellla's aunt and uncle are coming to recuperate after just releasing their newest best-seller based on the adventures of the vampire Count Le Plasma. Quinnie was hoping they would visit the cafe and talk about their new book, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. They have always been a bit odd and reclusive but now they won't even go outside, and the few glimpses Quinnie has had of them, doesn't look good. They are pale and gaunt and it's odd, and when you all up all the other weird things happening around town, what does it mean? Vampires? Well, that impossible because everyone knows vampires aren't real, right?
It took me a couple of chapters, but I ended up enjoying this book. It's a mystery and not complicated but the vampire aspect was fun and the characters are likeable. It's part of a mystery series but not necessary to have read the author's first one. If you have students that just want a mystery, this works. The characters are older than I thought but I doubt it would appeal to older students. It reads young in both language and content.
EL, MS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: RB
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
It's spring in Maine and Quinnie is looking forward to school ending and spending time with Ella and Ben. Ellla's aunt and uncle are coming to recuperate after just releasing their newest best-seller based on the adventures of the vampire Count Le Plasma. Quinnie was hoping they would visit the cafe and talk about their new book, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. They have always been a bit odd and reclusive but now they won't even go outside, and the few glimpses Quinnie has had of them, doesn't look good. They are pale and gaunt and it's odd, and when you all up all the other weird things happening around town, what does it mean? Vampires? Well, that impossible because everyone knows vampires aren't real, right?
It took me a couple of chapters, but I ended up enjoying this book. It's a mystery and not complicated but the vampire aspect was fun and the characters are likeable. It's part of a mystery series but not necessary to have read the author's first one. If you have students that just want a mystery, this works. The characters are older than I thought but I doubt it would appeal to older students. It reads young in both language and content.
EL, MS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: RB
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
August 25, 2019
Thirteen-year-old Quinnie Boyd suspects that Ella’s Aunt Cecil and Uncle Edgar (writers of a popular series in which Count La Plasma tells his stories), who are visiting for the summer, are real vampires, killing animals and wreaking havoc on the small Maine town of Maiden Rock. Why else would they avoid sunlight and cover mirrors? And who are the two unknown fishermen lurking around Ella’s home, apparently stalking the writers in the middle of the night? The sleuthing of Quinnie, Ella (her bestie), Ben (a sailing expert), and Dominic (a technology surveillance geek) leads to their stealing two boats and being in a high-speed chase. These fearless teens could end up grounded for the summer, or much worse. An adventurous and spooky atmosphere, as well as its humor, makes this cozy mystery an engaging read for middle-grade readers.
July 13, 2017
The second Quinnie Boyd mystery doesn't disappoint. A few new characters (like new neighbor and classmate, Dominic; and Ceil & Edgar, a pair of famous modern day vampire novelists) join the regulars (like the goofy but endearing Sister Ethel and Sister Rosie) for juicy new plot twists. When odd animal killings and mysterious howls mar the usually quiet local Maine scene, the unstoppable Quinnie simply MUST solve the strange goings-on. Author C.M. Surrisi adds a little supernatural flair to this middle grade mystery with references to Bram Stoker's DRACULA. It's a fun, spooky, and intriguing story revolving around a gang of middle school sleuthes. VAMPIRES ON THE RUN is sure to appeal to MG readers looking for a page turner!
July 13, 2023
every time i read this book, it never gets old because THIS is my favorite out of the whole series.
i have simple standards of guys. and dominic is apart of said standards. geek and cute.
quinnie is 13-years-old and thought vampires were real for a whole second of this book. this book just so fun! it has different vibes from the first book, which i didn't even finish because i was BORED out of my mind. i remember picking up this book like 2 years ago and now i reread it every year or so. it never gets old somehow.
quinnie and dominic have my heart. they are so cute i swear.
bottom line: VAMPIRES ARE REAL
i have simple standards of guys. and dominic is apart of said standards. geek and cute.
quinnie is 13-years-old and thought vampires were real for a whole second of this book. this book just so fun! it has different vibes from the first book, which i didn't even finish because i was BORED out of my mind. i remember picking up this book like 2 years ago and now i reread it every year or so. it never gets old somehow.
quinnie and dominic have my heart. they are so cute i swear.
bottom line: VAMPIRES ARE REAL
June 27, 2017
I really wanted to love this. It takes place in Maine (my favorite place on earth) and is a middle school mystery (my favorite genre). Seemed like it would be a homeroom but I was just bored. The dialogue between the 8th grade sleuths was awkward and Quinnie's strange obsession with putting herself and her friends in harm's way was irrational.
September 22, 2024
Cute middle grades mystery with some very mild hand-holding romance set in a small Maine town. (Spoiler alert: The vampire bit is all hyperactive imagination of 4 8th graders after reading Dracula and another vampire novel.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2018
Great book! Like the last one, very unexpected ending.
October 3, 2018
this was entertaining but this is not a very great book. read it for a break from something.
July 18, 2020
Fun! Well told with skill to keep your interest.
November 11, 2021
This book was ok. I hadn't read the first book as I didn't know that it wasn't the first book.
November 6, 2022
Such a fun mystery! Great for kids to read.
Want to read
November 21, 2016Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.
April 16, 2017
More please. I LOVE LOVE this series. This mystery kept me guessing.
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October 4, 2017Lexile Level: 690
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